Abstract

Terrorism remains a major threat to Nigeria’s national security, governance, and socio-economic stability. The persistent activities of violent extremist groups, notably Boko Haram and its affiliates, have exposed weaknesses in the country’s legal and institutional frameworks for preventing, detecting, and responding to terrorist acts. This paper critically examines Nigeria’s legal and institutional mechanisms for counterterrorism, analyzing their alignment with international conventions, regional frameworks such as the African Union and ECOWAS, and domestic laws. It explores the procedures for proscription of terrorist organizations, the roles of security and enforcement agencies, the judiciary, legislative oversight, and the participation of non-state actors including civil society organizations. Using a doctrinal and analytical approach, the study highlights both the strengths and limitations of Nigeria’s frameworks. While legal provisions provide the state with powers to criminalize terrorism and regulate security operations, gaps in implementation, coordination, and institutional capacity undermine effectiveness. Challenges such as overlapping mandates, inadequate resources, and limited technical expertise impede intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and judicial processes. Moreover, the need to balance counterterrorism measures with human rights obligations adds complexity to enforcement and oversight mechanisms. The findings reveal that sustainable counterterrorism requires a coherent integration of legal authority, institutional capacity, and civil society engagement. The paper emphasizes that Nigeria’s success in combating terrorism depends not only on robust legislation but also on effective coordination among security agencies, active judicial and legislative oversight, and collaboration with regional and international partners. By providing a critical assessment of these frameworks, the study contributes to the discourse on improving Nigeria’s counterterrorism architecture in a manner that is rights compliant, accountable, and sustainable.